Improvement in car-couplings



E. sTone.

Car-Couplings.

N 58 330 PatentedDeo.29 ,1874.-

THE GRAPHIC CD PHOTD'LITHjS 8| 4-! PARK PLACiNX PATEN EATON STONE, OF FRANKLIN, NE\V JERSEY.

IMPROVEMENT IN CAR-COUPLINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 1 58,330, dated December 29,1874; application filed July 25, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EATON STONE, of Franklin, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented an Improvement in Gap Couplings, of which the following is a specification:

In an application for a patent by me, dated March 18, 1 874, a car-coupling is shown in which there are inclined pawls and hinged coupling-bars, side by side, and standing in opposite directions.

The present is an improvement upon my aforesaid invention, and relates to a peculiar construction of inclined pawl for lessening the power required for uncoupling the cars; also, to springs arranged within the draw'bars, so as to allow a slight yielding movement to the axis of the connecting-link, and the same springs act upon buffers when the cars are run toward each other.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a general plan of the couplings. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of said couplings as connected together, and Fig. 3 is an elevation of one of the couplings.

The draft-bars a a are, by preference, of wood, connected to the timbers of the car, and running the length of the car. These draftbars a a are bound at the ends with plates of meta-l, an (1. they are made hollow, and provided with casings or side plates to inclose the expansive springs b 1), (shown by dotted lines;)

and these springs are placed between the follower-block?) of the crossbar c and the bufferblocks 4, that are at the inner ends of the buffers d, the object of these springs being to lessen the concussion of the couplings as the cars are run together in coupling, and to relie e the parts from sudden strain, because the coupling-bars e are connected to the cross-bars c, and the latter yield to undue strain, the said bars 0 passing through slots in the draw-bars, as represented. The buli'ers d are made with round convex heads, that comein contact as the cars are run together, and these heads and their stems are free to revolve to accommodate any pressure upon them, and the stem passes freely through the spring-block 4, and is secured by a pin,'so that it may turn. (See Fig. 4.) These coupling-bars e are each formed with a latch-head or end similar to those shown in the before-mentioned application; and the pawls f are fitted to swing upon the cross-bars g, and said pawls are raised as the couplingbars are forced in beneath them, and they drop behind the latch-heads of the coupling-bars to retain them. The shoes 0 are provided for the ends of the coupling-bars to slide upon.

In order to uncouple the cars it is usually necessary to either back the train or cause one car to run toward another sufficiently to relieve the strain; hence in cases of accident it is very diflicult to uncouple the cars suddenly. I remedy this difficulty by constructing each coupling-pawl f in the form of a toggle, the two parts being hinged together at 5, so that both the strain and the weight of the pawl tend to keep the toggle straight, as seen in Fig. 2; but when the lever or handle an is moved, and the chain 8 drawn upon by the lever-arm a, the toggle-joint is lifted, causing the toggle to bend upwardly, and the strain causes the moving portion 9 of the toggle to swing around into the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3, and liberate the end of the coupling-bar, and this can be done with the couplingunder heavy strain.

By positioning the levers m at the side upon the draft-bars a, as represented, they will not lie in the way of passengers passing from one car to the next.

In order to prevent the entire strain of the coupling-bar coming upon the cross-shaft c, I employ a fork or tension-strap, r, the ends of which are firmly attached to the draft-bars a; and a projection, 8, upon the coupling-bar rests into the fork of this strap when the springs are compressed, thereby relieving the crossbar a of considerable strain. 1 use this stud or projection s for a coupling-link, u, that can be employed when my improved coupling is to be used with the ordinary draw-head coupling. For this purpose the said link a is drawn forward, its length being sufficient to allow it to reach the next coupling; but when the link is not in use it is to be pushed back, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. p

I do not claim a pawl applied in a coupling as in the patent of J. It. Hill, November 7 1865.

I claim as my inven tion 1. The coupling-pawl f, having the movable end 9 hinged at 5, and provided with upward projections at the joint, that form stops, and cause the toggle-pawl to sustain the strain of the eouplilighar, and allow the parts to be disconnected, as set forth.

2. The buffers d, applied upon the draft-bars a, with springs between their inner ends, and the blocks 3 at the ends of the cross-bars c, in combination with the eouplin g-bars e and pawls f, substantially as set forth.v

3. The studs 8 and tension-strap r, in combination with the coupling-strap e, cross-bar 0, and link a, as and for the purposes set forth.

Signed by me this 23d day of July, A. D. 1874.

EATON STONE.

Witnesses:

GEo. T. PINCKNEY, CHAS. H. SMITH. 

